{ Longing for England }

 I've wanted to do this post for a long time, and I mean longggggg time.  It's something that has been in my heart for as long as I can remember, all the way back to my childhood actually.

Longing for England!!!

That may sound like the weirdest thing you may hear me say, but there's no other way for me to put it, other than I long to be in England.  I feel an immense pull towards that country, and nothing I say, nothing I think, nothing anyone else says, can change that for me.

I've often sat and thought about why I felt this way, especially since I was not born in England, I've never been to England, other than a lay over for a couple hours in London when I moved from South Africa to the USA.  Even in those brief hours, I felt at home, I didn't want to get back on the plane, I just wanted to stay there.

It's almost a familiar feeling and a pull so strong that at times, I will see a picture of a certain village or a vlog someone has done out and about in their town and I almost want to cry.  It's the strangest thing ever.

Places like those above, especially, call out to me.  I look at it and all I can think is HOME.  My heart feels such a pull, such a homesickness towards it.  But where does this all come from?

Now I'm not one that can sit here and say that I 100% believe in past lives or reincarnation, but if not for that, then where does my longing originate?

Have you ever felt that way towards a specific country, city, place?

Strangest yet is that I've always said certain phrases that are British, have always loved certain foods that are British, have always loved British TV above all others, and let's not even mention my obsession with the Tudors and Medieval and Victorian and Edwardian and all else.

I've done research trying to understand and all I come across is past lives, reincarnation, soul homes.  The last one really called to me because it is exactly how I feel when I think of England.  Like that's where my soul belongs, where it considers home.

But realistically, it's a place I may never be able to visit because I just don't have the money to afford it.  So I long for it, see it from afar and hold it very tightly in my heart.

It feels a little loony to be honest, how can I feel sadness if I've never been there?  How can I look at a village street and feel "I'm supposed to be there, that's my place".

Everything about England calls to me.  I love the homes, I love the life, I love the country, the foods, the accent, the way they say things and do things, their tv shows.

Now I know you may be thinking that it's all due to me reading about it, or what I see on TV and so on, but really it's not.  In fact, it's the other way around.  I do those things is because of that feeling, that longing, that need to feel like I'm home.

 

In my research, I came across a word that stood out, one which might actually describe exactly what I'm feeling, because I seem to have a hard time making people understand.

Sehnsucht

There is a noun in the German language called Sehnsucht. It has no real translation into English, but it can best be translated as "longing", "pining", "yearning", or "craving", or in a wider sense a type of "intensely missing".

BINGO!!!!!

All of my feelings wrapped up into a cool sounding word.   Intensely missing, that's it, right there.  So strange.

Though England is my home, Scotland and Ireland come very close too.  But there's a difference, when I see Ireland I feel a longing to visit, but just because I think it's a beautiful country.  Scotland on the other hand, is a little more like my feel towards England though NOTHING in comparison. 

But even when I would watch Outlander and see the beautiful Scottish Highlands, my heard skipped a beat and pulled me to it.

None will ever come even close to scratching the surface of the UK for me. 

I have decided that I need to start saving money and it may take me many years, but I HAVE to visit England, I just have to, there's no way around this feeling.  Maybe the day I set foot in that country, I will understand why this calling, or for what purpose. 

Maybe it will all be explained and I'll feel finally at peace, but until then I will continue to live it within me until the day that I can actually breathe in the fresh air in the countryside or take a walk down the cobblestones of the village street.  I do believe the day that happens, I may just be a crying fool for even thinking about it now, brings me to tears.

I would love to know if any of you out there understand what I'm feeling, feel the same way towards a certain place or even maybe know why. 

Let's have a little chit chat shall we?

Pack your bags.......

I'm taking you on a trip, well, a virtual trip but nonetheless you still need to pack some things, like a drink and some snacks and maybe a notebook and a pencil to jot down some of these amazing places.

Who knows, maybe one day you'll get to go there in person. I certainly hope so, all I can do is dream right now.

So where are we going you may ask?

We're taking a little trip across the ocean. If you show you an aerial view, will that give you a clue?

Oh yes, I am sure most of you who know me already guessed that we were heading to England. I'm nothing if predictable right? *snicker*

Anyway, I hope you're ready for a full day of travelling, we'll just go from village to village, town to town and explore along the way. I'm excited are you?

We're going to start heading east from Bristol, I don't know about you but I would rather see the small villages along the way than stay in a big city like Bristol.

Our trip takes us past Mangostfield which is a village in South Gloucestershire, England.

Mangotsfield - Flickr Image

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Our first stop is at Littleton Drew, a village of 44 properties and 120 villagers. It dates from before the Norman Conquest, being known at that time simply as "Litle Tun" (little farm). From the 13th Century it became known as Littleton Dru, Walter Driwe Dreu having held the manor from about 1220.

Aren't those beautiful? I absolutely love old churches and graveyards, though many find that a bit weird of me, but what can I say?

Let's keep going we have plenty more to see. Coming up on our right is West Sevington.

Ahhhh here we are. I think we'll hang around here for a bit.

This is the Manor House in Stanton St. Quintin

Main gate to Stourhead House - The Stourton family had lived in the Stourhead estate for 700 years when they sold it to Henry Hoare I, son of wealthy banker Sir Richard Hoare in 1717. The original manor house was demolished and a new house, one of the first of its kind, was designed by Colen Campbell and built by Nathaniel Ireson between 1720 and 1724.

I think I would be happy living around this area, it's just stunning.

As much as I enjoyed this little stop we really should get going, hop in, we're heading to Dauntsey.

Here is the Old Rectory

Another beautiful church

Did I tell you where exactly we're going? I didn't? Well, I'm taking you to Pendle Hill.

It will take us another 3 hours to get there since it's further up north, but with such beautiful scenery all around I think we'll have an enjoyable trip.

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Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill is located in the north-east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe and Padiham. Its summit is 557 metres (1,827 ft) above mean sea level. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill, separated from the Pennines to the east and the Forest of Bowland to the northwest.

There is something magical about this place, I can't quite put into words just how stunning and surreal it looks.

The story of the Pendle witch trials is the best known example of alleged witchcraft in English history. The hill continues to be associated with witchcraft and large numbers of visitors climb it every Hallowe'en.

Local magistrates, conducted ruthless witch-hunts in 1612 in the hope that they would find favour with King James who lived in fear of Catholic rebellion having survived the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. One of these hunts resulted in the arresting of Alizon Device in Pendle, Lancashire.

The crime she was accused of was setting a curse on a pedlar and paralysing him. She confessed, and incriminated two other women, named Demdike and Chattox.

I really could stay here forever couldn't you?

However, I think we've been travelling for quite a while and it's best to head on to the The Pendle Inn for the night. We can always explore more next weekend right?

Yes I think these accomodations will do just fine.

Well I'm off to get some rest, I hope you enjoyed this little trip with me, I'll keep going next Sunday and if you wish, I would love to have you along again :)

All Images from Flickr

Greatest Places on Earth! *Dartmoor*

Do you remember my Greatest Places on Earth posts??? Last year I used to do them every friday, it was a way for me to learn about new places but also share them with you all and not to mention my kids LOVED these posts.

Because I haven't done them in soooo long, I thought I would start up again, hey, at least I don't have to sit and wrack my brain for something to blog about.

Before I pack my bags to leave though, here are the other Greatest Places Posts if you're interested:

Switzerland
Scotland
Greek Islands
Port Elizabeth
Egypt
Machu Picchu

So where are we going today you wonder? Well how about Dartmoor in England!

I have always been fascinated with the beautiful English countryside and Dartmoor is one of those places I wish I could visit. So come with me, let's go on a trip.

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DARTMOOR

All images used in this post are NOT mine. Credit goes to the websites online.

Over the past 12,000 years man has hunted, farmed, mined, quarried and lived on and around Dartmoor. From the early Mesolithic hunter gatherers to the modern day 'moorman', humans have left their marks on its landscape. Dartmoor has been described as the 'last wilderness' and sometimes when walking deep in that 'wilderness' it is not hard to believe that you are the first to set foot on its virgin soil. Don't even go there, just stop and have a good look and it's guaranteed that within eyesight will be the mark of someone being there before you. It may be a solitary standing stone on the horizon, built by the 'Men of Bronze' or it may be a small heap of stones left there by the old tinners, but somewhere there will be something. Every tor, mire, stream, gully, wood or valley will have a name, granted many of them won't appear on the modern map and lots have been forgotten in the mists of time but they will all have a name showing evidence of the presence of man. Therefore if man has been associated with the area for so long it is inevitable that there has been a wealth of tradition, archaeology, history, folklore and legend left for us to explore today.

Credit: 1976design.com

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in the centre of the English county of Devon. Protected by National Park status, it covers 953 km² (368 square miles).

The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops (known as tors), providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 621 m above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities.

Dartmoor is managed by the National Park Authority whose 26 members are drawn from Devon County Council, local District Councils and Government.

Parts of Dartmoor have been used as a military firing range for over 200 years. The public enjoy extensive access rights to the rest of Dartmoor, and it is a popular tourist destination.

Great Links Tor

Dartmoor is known for its tors — large hills, topped with outcrops of bedrock, which in granite country such as this are usually rounded boulder-like formations. There are over 160 tors on Dartmoor. They are the focus of an annual event known as the Ten Tors Challenge, when over a thousand people, aged between 14 and 21, walk for distances of 35, 45 or 55 miles over 10 tors on many differing routes. While many of the hills of Dartmoor have the word "Tor" in them quite a number do not, however this does not appear to relate to whether there is an outcrop of rock on their summit.

The highest points on Dartmoor are High Willhays and Yes Tor on the northern moor. Eylesbarrow and Ryder's Hill are the highest points on the southern moor. Probably the best known tor on Dartmoor is Haytor .

High Willhays


Yes Tor


Eylesbarrow


Ryder's Hill


Haytor

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THE VIDEOS

Wistman's Wood on Dartmoor



Dartmoor An Inspirational Place



Dartmoor Ponies

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THE RECIPES

Bubble and Squeak

Credit: everythingisfood.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

25g/1oz Butter

1 Onion, chopped

450g/1lb Cooked Potatoes, mashed

225g/8oz Cooked Cabbage, chopped

4-6 sliced cooked Beef chopped

Salt and Pepper



Instructions


1. Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the onion and sauté gently for 5-6 minutes until soft, stirring from time to time.

2. Raise the heat to medium hot, add the potatoes, cabbage, beef, salt and pepper and continue to fry for 15 minutes, stirring from time to time, until browned and crispy. The crispy bits should be mixed throughout. Serve immediately.

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Bread and Butter Pudding

Ingredients:

6 slices well buttered Bread

50g/2oz Sultanas

4 Eggs

25g/1oz Sugar

600ml/20fl.oz. Milk

A little extra Sugar



Instructions


1. Preheat the oven to 170C, 325F, Gas mark 3. Grease a 7.5cm/3 inch deep ovenproof dish.

2. Remove the crusts from the buttered bread and cut into quarters (triangles or squares). Reserve 4 quarters for the top and arrange the rest in layers in the dish, sprinkling the sultanas between each layer. Top with the reserved quarters.

3. In a saucepan, heat the milk to hot but not boiling. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs and sugar then add the hot milk, stirring well.

4. Slowly strain over the bread and fruit, being careful not to dislodge the top layer of bread. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with a little sugar and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until the top is browned and crispy.

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